Beaver Creek Community Calendar

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Beaver Creek eNews Bulletin

July 18, 2015

Dear Neighbors

Fire Chief Terry Kelly has informed us that last night at Verde Lakes multiple first responder agencies worked together to rescue a stranded motorist in a low water crossing and to evacuate occupants stranded in several homes.  Most were affected by an overflowing wash entering the area from the north.  Camp Verde, Montezuma Rimrock and Sedona Fire personnel rescued and/or evacuated 15 people and several pets.  Verde Valley Fire personnel and the Camp Verde Marshall's assisted and patrolled respectively.  Additional agencies assisted in this coordinated effort and are listed in his press release.

The flash flood warning for the Verde Valley area continues at least through 11 PM tonight and low water crossings may be hazardous.  The weather forecast for the Montezuma Rimrock area is 60%+ chance for heavy rains.  Please be prepared and cautious.

  

Be safe,          . . . . . the  calendar crew           

 

CAMP VERDE FIRE DISTRICT

 

26B Salt Mine Road, Camp Verde, AZ  86322;   Phone (928) 567-9401 Fax (928) 567-2444

 

Press Release - For Immediate Release

 

On July 17th at 9:38 PM, the Camp Verde Fire District was dispatched to the area of E. Verde Lakes Drive for swift water rescue due to flash flooding.  The presumption for the cause of the flooding was that West Clear Creek had reached flood stage due to significant monsoon rains over the watershed.  However, the Camp Verde Marshal's office, when they arrived on scene, advised the wash that flows through Verde Lakes from the north, was overflowing, and several houses, with occupants in them, were stranded.  There were reports of individuals stranded on a deck of one home; a person stranded in a tree; and a vehicle with an occupant stranded in the low-water crossing on Verde Lakes Drive.  Upon arrival of CVFD, an incident command post was set up at Verde Lakes Drive and Cactus Blossom Lane. 

 

As water levels were continuing to rise, a swift water technician team was quickly assembled and made access to the vehicle in the crossing. The occupant was given a floatation device and helmet and was assisted out of the wash without injury to the command post.  As this rescue was taking place, there were additional rescues needed on Sunrise and Maple Drives, to assist those stranded in their imperiled homes.  Additional units were also sent to Hilltop Drive, about a half mile from the command post.  At this location, there was a report of 2 people trapped inside the residence, and that the home was coming off its foundation due to rising flood waters. These individuals were rescued by units from both Camp Verde and Montezuma/Rimrock Fire Districts. The occupants on Sunrise were rescued by Camp Verde personnel.  As the water continued to rise, additional units were called from Verde Valley and Sedona Fire Districts for extra swift water technicians, and to support the incident.  After completing most of the rescues and evacuations, a late report came in of a person trapped in her home on Dawn Drive. Sedona Fire swift water technicians made access to the residence on foot and were able to put the victim in a 4 wheel drive vehicle at the residence, and drive the victim to safety at the command post.  While all of these rescues were occurring, a call-back for staffing in Camp Verde was also initiated, and an additional engine company was eventually put into service with this staffing to support other calls in the region.

 

Camp Verde, Sedona, and Montezuma Rimrock Fire personnel worked together to rescue and/or evacuate 15 people and several pets.  Verde Valley Fire personnel assisted at the command post to house the victims in a local residence until the Red Cross arrived to provide temporary lodging for those displaced.    The Camp Verde Marshal's Office was instrumental in patrolling the area in search of other victims and to report of conditions remote form the command post.  The Town of Camp Verde also the supported the operation by providing barricades to restrict access to the flooded/unstable areas. There were no reported injuries to the victims or repsonders.

 

By midnight, the all of the victims and been evacuated or rescued and began to get support from Yavapai County Emergency Management and the Red Cross.  At this point, the water levels had receded significantly.  The agencies involved in the operation were: Camp Verde Fire District, Montezuma/Rimrock Fire District, Sedona Fire District, Verde Valley Fire District, Yavapai County Emergency Management, the Camp Verde Marshal's Office, the Town of Camp Verde, and the American Red Cross.

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